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Our March newsletter turns the spotlight onto pet behaviour.

Puppy Pre School is very popular for new Puppy owners and a great start for the road to a well behaved pet. We are fortunate to have the skill of Debi Coleman and OVH nurse Rosie to run these weekly classes at OVH.

We take animal behaviour seriously.

Debi (The Dog Lady) is an accredited instructor in dog training and Rosie in addition to her boundless common sense and nurse skills is completing the Delta Dog Training and Behaviour course. Helen Whittle, OVH vet, last week attended the Small Animal Behavioural Medicine Conference in Sydney with industry respected behaviouralists Kirsti Seksel, Sarah Heath and Georgina Child. Helen is keen to share the insights gained with our clients and patients.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for our March Polite Pets competition. 

Click Here

Polite pet JR dog2

How polite is your pet? image courtesy pixabay.com

Contents of this newsletter

01  Is your bunny protected?

02  When good behaviour goes bad

03  Common behavioural questions

04  Urine spraying in cats

05  Anxiety - the leading behaviour problem in dogs

06  Feisty cat does all he can to avoid trip to the vet

01 Is your bunny protected?
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this very cute picture is courtesy pixabay.com

We have recently been inundated with questions from concerned owners of the risks of the new strain of calicivirus that has been released to help land owners control wild rabbits.
 
The Australian Veterinarian Association's advice to owners of pet rabbits is to ensure their rabbits are vaccinated. 
 
However stocks of the Cylap vaccine are currently exhausted with a delay of a few weeks until new stocks of the vaccine arrive. We are taking names and phone numbers of clients who have pet rabbits in need of vaccination so we can contact you as soon as the vaccine is available. 
 
What can you do in the meantime to reduce the risk of infection for your pet rabbit?
  • If possible, keep rabbits inside for the next few weeks or until they can be vaccinated and your vet advises it is now safe for them to be outside.
  • Prevent direct and indirect contact between domestic and wild rabbits.
  • Avoid cutting grass and feeding it to rabbits if there is the risk of contamination from wild rabbits.
  • Wash hands, with warm soapy water in between handling rabbits that are not normally in contact with each other.
  • Good insect control is vitally important and will help reduce the risks of introduction of both RHDV and myxomatosis. Insect control should include insect proofing the hutch or keeping the rabbits indoors.
  • Infected rabbits should be isolated and any dead rabbits should be disposed of in a manner that will minimise environmental contamination. 

All cages and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Disinfectants that can be used to decontaminate equipment include 10 % bleach, 10 % sodium hydroxide, or parvocide disinfectants. Autoclaving will also kill the virus.

If you have any further concerns please call us 63618388.

02 When good behaviour goes bad
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Has your pet always been well behaved but all of a sudden things have changed?

Has toilet training gone out the window?

Is your dog suddenly digging up the garden or barking non stop?

Is your cat clawing at your favourite piece of furniture?

Behavioural problems in our pets are very common and they can begin at any point during your pet's life. 

This is where a medical examination with us is absolutely essential. For example, if your pet is suddenly urinating in the house, we need to rule out medical problems such as a urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence.

Perhaps your dog has started growling at you when he is picked up - have you thought that your dog might be in pain due to the onset of arthritis?

If your pet's behaviour has gone to the dogs you should arrange an appointment with us as soon as possible so we can get to the bottom of the problem. If we are able to rule out any medical problems we have plenty of tools up our sleeve to help treat and manage behavioural issues.  

If you want to improve your pet's behaviour, start by giving us a call. 

03 Common behavioural questions
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Here are a few of the behavioural issues we talk about with our clients on a daily basis.

Dog Behaviour

Barking: It's important to understand that barking is a normal way that dogs communicate with others. Dogs might bark to get attention, during play, hunting, territorial defence, and in fearful and anxious situations. We can help you identify the reason your dog is barking and provide advice about how to control it.

Aggression: Many clients ask how to control aggressive behaviour in their dog. Remember that aggression is a normal behaviour expressed by dogs in a variety of situations. All questions about aggressive behaviour need to be dealt with professionally by us so that a full work-up can be performed and treatment plan formulated.

Destructive behaviour: Dogs do not destroy things vindictively and there are many other reasons your dog may be destructive including boredom, inadequate exercise, investigation, anxiety, fear or phobias. We'll try to determine the cause of your dog's destructive behaviour and what to do about it. 

Cat Behaviour

Scratching: Scratching is normal cat behaviour that is used to communicate or mark territory. It's something they must do and it can be easier to direct their scratching towards an acceptable surface, especially in the early stages, rather than trying to stop the damage later. Ask us for tips.

Yowling: Owners can find that this is a common problem, particularly early in the morning. This might occur because your cat is hungry, in pain, seeking attention, demanding food or defending his territory.

Spraying: This problem is frequently reported to us by cat owners. You can read more about this issue in the article below.

If you have a question about your pet's behaviour, we are the best people to ask. 

04 Urine spraying in cats
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If you've ever seen a cat spraying you may have been intrigued. It's a strange looking activity where the cat stands with a vertical tail (sometimes quivering at the tip) and delivers a squirt of urine against a vertical surface. 

Urine spraying is considered a normal part of a cat's scent-marking. It is thought that the spray contains information about sex, age, hormonal state and general health and it may also deter other cats from coming into a cat's territory. Both male and female cats will spray - cats that are not desexed may spray more often.

Cats will also spray when they are frustrated, upset or feel threatened by another cat. It's fascinating feline psychology and by marking with a squirt of urine and leaving a familiar smell, a cat feels a greater sense of security in his or her territory. 

Most cats won't spray indoors as they feel sufficiently comfortable in their own territory. Sometimes this can, however go out the window and simple changes may rock the boat.

Why might a cat start spraying indoors? Triggers include: 

  • The arrival (or departure) of a new cat, dog or person in the family (or next door!)  
  • Changes in the home area such as a new piece of furniture or new carpets
  • Disruptions such as building construction next door
  • An addition of a cat flap which can suddenly make the cat feel insecure indoors

Medical problems such as urinary tract infections or inflammation can also cause a cat to suddenly start spraying urine indoors. This highlights the importance of getting your cat checked with us as the treatment for a urinary tract infection will be very different to the management of behavioural spraying.

If you are concerned about your cat or have any questions relating to your cat's toileting habits please ask us for advice.

05 Anxiety - the leading behaviour problem in dogs
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Anxiety disorders are probably the most common type of behaviour problem we see in dogs.

For most dogs, stress plays a key role in the development of an anxiety problem but there may also be a breed predisposition in some cases. 

It is important to understand that anxiety in dogs is a medical condition and requires veterinary attention and careful management.

Some signs of canine anxiety to watch out for include:

  • Destructive behaviour such as digging, chewing furniture, scratching at door frames
  • Pacing or trying to escape
  • Aggression - to other dogs or people
  • Yawning
  • Avoiding eye contact or looking away
  • Standing with tail tucked under

For us to accurately diagnose an anxiety problem we'll be relying on you to give us essential information about your dog's behavioural and medical history. We will ask you lots of questions and also perform a thorough physical exam and possibly blood and urine tests, especially if your dog's treatment plan includes medication.

Punishment should never be used when training an anxious dog as this will only further increase anxiety and this can impair the retraining process. 

If you are worried about your dog's behaviour please call us.

06 Feisty cat does all he can to avoid trip to the vet
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Wrangling your cat and getting them into a carrier can be a very stressful event - as demonstrated in this hilarious video. This can put you off bringing your cat to us and it means they might miss out on essential health check ups, vaccinations and preventative care.

If you think about it, in your cat's mind, nothing good comes after being shoved into a carrier. While our canine friends get to leave the house for pleasurable walks and trips to the beach, most cats are invariably taken somewhere a lot less exciting!

Remember that all pets should be secured in the car, not just for their safety but also yours.

Here are our top tips for reducing cat carrier stress:

  • First up: ask us about the pheromone spray we have available to help your cat feel more secure and safe while in the carrier.
  • Bring a towel that smells like home to cover the carrier when you arrive here.
  • Try not put the carrier down near a strange dog - that instantly creates stress.
  • At home, store the carrier in a part of your house that smells familiar. Give your cat the chance to rub her scent on the carrier.
  • Try to associate the carrier with good things! Place food in the carrier or special treats (ask us for the best recommendation).

We will happily recommend the best carrier for your cat that is both safe and secure - call us today.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the video!